DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 28, 2021

Andrey Rublev

Team Russian Tennis Federation

Press Conference

F. LOPEZ/A. Rublev

2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Spain - 1

Russian Tennis Federation - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Not the result you wanted today, but can you explain what it was like, the difference between the way Feli was playing in that first set and then the rest of the match?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Basically the way Feli was playing the first set, this is something that during the last years, I mean, especially now when he's not practicing that well, this is something like normal more was the way he was playing. And then the way he start to play last two, second and third set, it's something that happens to him not really often.

I remember a couple of matches when he was playing this way in last couple of years. One of them was with Rafa in Paris-Bercy when he almost beat him. Every time he's playing here in Madrid, he's giving his best. He's super focused. He's super, like, controlling his emotions. He's not complaining at all. He's playing -- he's giving his best every point. That's what he was doing today, and he was playing amazing.

He was serving second serve 190 on the breakpoints, and not many players can do without double faults, and he didn't do in second and third set almost not one -- I mean, on the breakpoint for sure when he was serving 190-something, he did not one double fault.

The way he was playing in general with the volley, he catch so many amazing balls, and he play some amazing volleys out of nowhere. He was -- I don't know, today he was playing really well and he deserve to win.

Q. You mentioned that obviously playing in Madrid brings out the best in his game. Do you think also the crowd and the atmosphere in the arena made a big difference today?

ANDREY RUBLEV: For sure. I think for Feli is very important because he's from here, and he's playing in front of his home crowd and he have completely different mood, like I said, he was completely another player, super focused, super perfect attitude. Nothing to say.

Q. You're nominated to play in the doubles alongside Aslan. Is that still the plan? Obviously hoping that Daniil wins this second match and you can clinch it in the doubles?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know. First of all, we need to see what's going on with Daniil. Hopefully, yes. I don't know. I didn't talk with the team yet, but hopefully I'm going to play doubles.

Q. I appreciate you just walked off court, but how are you feeling at the moment? How difficult is it to go through all of that?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, of course I feel disappointed that I couldn't bring first point to the team because, I mean, it's very important match today. Of course I feel disappointed, but on the other side of that, I cannot say nothing, because I did my best. Feli was playing unreal today. Nothing to say. If he would play this way most of his matches, I think he will still be on the top level.

Q. How much do you have left in the tank at the moment? Obviously it's late in the season. Just physically and mentally, how much do you have left in the tank?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No, I'm feeling fine. It's not about this. I'm feeling fine. Yeah, I want to play. I don't feel like I'm like tired, I want to rest or something. I feel opposite.

I feel really motivated to play, to work to practice, and to give my best already still here and then in less than a month in upcoming season.